I bought my first baitboat some four years ago that was so bloody awful I sent it back and demanded (and received) my money back. Not surprisingly I was so wary of baitboats following that sad episode I was reluctant to buy another.
But hopping over to France pretty regularly to fish for carp and catfish meant I either had to learn how to cast over 150yds in some cases – or buy a baitboat. Not being a big chucker I opted to chance my arm – and wallet – on another boat. 
This time it was the rather more expensive, but top quality, Angling Technic’s Standard Baitboat with echo sounder. The company describes it thus:
‘It uses a 27 Mhz AM 2 channel radio system – microprocessor enhanced. Three ultrasonic sealed zero maintenance jet pumps make it fast, efficient and quiet. Twin independent hoppers with optional particle curtains. Two-speed forward and single reverse. Three high intensity navigation LED’s including white. Size: 570mm x 300mm x 260mm. Weight: 7kg. Bait capacity : 4kg. Range: 400m. Running time (at max speed): 45 minutes. Free instructional video included.
With the echo sounder version it becomes a valuable tool for locating features, bars and drop-off’s etc. The transponder is a waterproof control box inside the hull. The control box contains yet another computer and radio transmitter which sends information to a hand held display. The information display has backlighting for night work and will display either feet or meters and will indicate the trend of the bottom. The unit will also indicate if something appears between the boat and the bottom. This could be a snag, fish or other body. The echo sounder will measure depths from 1 metre to 50 meters and the radio system has a range of 200 meters. Software now contains DSP (digital signal processing) that uses smart averaging algorithms to enable a better result.’
I’ve never regretted it, for apart from the odd hiccup it has performed superbly and been at least partly responsible for my catching pike to almost 30lb and several big carp, including my personal best French 52-pounder from Le Domaine des Iles.
Since then I have upgraded to the new Microcat Baitboat of which the company says:
‘The Microcat uses a 40 Mhz FM 4 channel radio system giving superb range and reliability. It has four ultrasonic sealed, zero-maintenance jet pumps which are fast, efficient and quiet. Twin washdown independant hoppers make it excellent for all baits including particles. Operation of hoppers can be individual or simultaneous. Microprocessor-controlled variable speed in forward and reverse and can spin on its own axis. Six ultra high intensity LED’s, including blue and white, are visible at range, even in daytime. Remote lighting control which can be controlled at range. Removable battery system – change the batteries for heavy duty or high speed (Ni – MH). Hydro-dynamically efficient and stable catamaran hull – 3D CAD designed. Size : 690mm x 370mm x 170mm. Weight: 7kg with std batteries, 9kg with HD batteries, 5kg with Ni-MH batteries. Bait capacity: 4kg with std batteries, 2kg with HD batteries, 6kg with Ni-MH batteries. Range: 600m. Running time (at max speed): 45 min with std batteries, 70 min with HD batteries, 45 min with Ni-MH. Free instructional video included. Echo sounder has same spec as that fitted to standard boat. 
I know there are many anglers who strongly disagree with the use of baitboats, and I respect their opinion. Me, I think of them as just another accessory that makes life a lot easier in certain situations. I certainly wouldn’t like to see them sailing around waters all over the country with no restrictions whatsoever. But where they are appropriate they can be a good thing. Better to drop your bait in that awkward, distant spot from a baitboat than risk leaving hooks and line in trees and bushes on the far bank as a result of a bad cast.
It isn’t so long ago when swimfeeders were condemned as ‘unfair and unsporting, destroying the art of angling, etc, etc.’ But now they’re accepted as just another piece of end tackle. Of course, there will always be someone who disagrees with the use of some item of tackle for one reason or another.The traditional tackle anglers disagree, or at least dislike, umpteen modern tackle items, so there will be something you’re using that someone, somewhere, doesn’t like. I’ll use a baitboat where I can’t do without one to catch fish and where it isn’t an intrusion on any other angler’s pleasure. Where I can do without one, I will.
Baitboats are not just for getting baits out at long range, they are superb ‘baitdroppers’. You can drop a handful of boilies with your hookbait precisely in any spot within 200yds or so. They can be deadly when fished like so, especially when fitted with an on-board echo sounder to pinpoint drop-offs and weedbeds, etc. You can get more details about the boats and all the accessories available for them at www.cygnet.co.uk/ukfw/angtec
Angling Technic’s baitboats are not cheap, but like everything else, you get what you pay for. The standard boat costs £ 425, with echo sounder £ 740. The standard Microcat will set you back £ 595, with echo sounder £ 910. By the way, they’ve made a really good video about the new Microcat starring Des Taylor, Andy Little and Nige Williams. Well worth a look to see just how useful these baitboats really are.
